Remand Custody Illustrated Bondage Restrictions

Excerpt from the “Female Prisoner’s Handbook” from HMP Bronzefield.

Very often, when a criminal proceeding has been taken against a person, they are notified by certified mail that they are to appear at a space of incarceration and the held “in remand” until their trial and sentencing. Sometimes this is only a few months, but with the backlog in the court system, this can be as much as a two to three years.

This concept was first related by AdamT when his wife was handcuffed and taken into Remand Custody after a traffic incident.

Female Remand Prisoners, Security level, and associated restrictions

Restriction

Minimum

Medium

High

Maximum

In court – handcuffs in front

x

In court – handcuffs behind back

x

x

x

In court – gag or facemask

x

x

In court – may wear own clothes

x

x

x

In transport to other jail facility

behind

behind

full set

full set

In cell – handcuffed in front

x

In cell – handcuffed behind back

x

x

In cell – leg irons

x

x

In cell – gag and facemask

optional

x

In cell – leg irons anchored by chain

x

In cell – common area with bars

x

x

In cell – isolation with solid door

x

x

In cell – lights on 24 hours

x

In cell – lights off 9:30 – 6:30

x

x

In cell – total darkness

x

In hallway – for prison errands, etc.

In front

Behind

full set

full set

Outside world – may write letters

x

x

x

Outside world – may make phone calls

x

x

Outside world – may use internet

x

x

Wardrobe – outfits for court, etc

x

x

x

Visitation – handcuffs in front

x

Visitation – handcuffs behind back

x

x

n/a

Visitation – leg irons

x

x

n/a

Visitation – frequency

Weekly

Bi-Weekly

45 days

n/a

Conjugal visits – frequency

Weekly

Bi-Weekly

Never

never

Notes:

All prisoners except minimum will be handcuffed behind their backs, and ironed from their jail cell to court

Guards are permitted to upgrade security level at any time

Guards do not have the discretion to downgrade security level

45 days without incident will earn the prisoner a downgrade in security level, except those convicted of murder and assault

In all conjugal visits, the female prisoner will be handcuffed behind her back and ironed, as well as chained to her bunk by her throat with no more than a 24-inch chain.

Jo sat right next to me as she also looked at the table of restrictions. “Oh my God,” she said, “I’m going to be locked in medium security if I’m on time, but if I’m late, look at the difference if they upgrade me to high security.”

—

The full details of a young woman who is confined in remand custody are available to purchasers of Remand Custody in Bondage 1 at Amazon.com.

So, there you have it! Well, one of our readers, who is a prison security engineer, has taken it upon himself to create an illustrated table of restraint icons which will give female prisoners a more graphic concept of the restraints that will be imposed on them.

Transportation is a critical time for any prisoner. When a prisoner is out in the free world, the temptation is powerful to just bolt and run! That is why all prisoners must be handcuffed behind her back, even minimum security prisoners.

Visitation time is permitted at varying intervals, but restraints are required. Only relatives by marriage or attorneys may visit prisoners in remand. There was some debate about women being allowed visits from their children and parents as to whether their restraints must remain locked on and it was decided that they must be in their chains. Women may be permitted visits from their husbands, but no boyfriends or live-ins are permitted. A marriage certificate must be on file.

Security Levels for females in Remand Custody – visitation with relatives and attorneys

All women, except for minimum security prisoners are chained in their cells. No reading, masturbation, card playing or sex is permitted.

Security Levels for females in Remand Custody – when locked in her cell

For appearances in court, women are permitted to wear clothes brought by their relatives. Guidelines stress that conservative clothes, such as a nice dress, blouse and skirt, pantyhose and high heels usually make the best impression on a judge and jury. As is clear from the illustration below, women in maximum security remain in their jail issued uniform and are hooded, gagged, and chained.

Instructions are given a jury that just because a woman is shackled and perhaps gagged or hooded, do this reflect on her guilt or innocence. They are to reflect on the full weight of the evidence against her before issuing their guilty verdict.

Security Levels for females in Remand Custody – when in court

Remand prisoners are not required to be confined in their cell for 24 hours per day. When out of their cell, in the common or recreational area, they are restrainted as in the following illustration.

Security Levels for females in Remand Custody – when outside their cell in a secure facility

The full details of a young woman who is confined in remand custody are available to purchasers of Remand Custody in Bondage 1 at Amazon.com.